Bicuspid w/ mild insufficiency

[farmerMike]

Hi,

Curious about a condition that I am told I have.  Doctor ordered echo after I complained of having skipped heartbeats.  The echo came back stating that I had a bicuspid aortic valve, with mild insufficiency.  It was not stenotic.  Trace or no regurg on other valves.  The other dimensions are:
rt. vent 28
Aorta (base) 37
lt atrium 32
LVED 47
LVES 23
IVS 9
Wall 8

My questions are, does this regurgitation progress in severity? At what rate?  I am now 26 years old and freaked out about this condition.  Could this be contributing to the irregular heartbeats.  They seem to happen more frequently now. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.  

Thanks

[CCF-M.D.-RCJ]

farmerMike,

Thanks for the post.

Q:"does this regurgitation progress in severity?"

Some people yes, and some people no.

Depending on the study you review, and how the patients were selected (either from echo or autopsy studies), the number of persons that progress is anywhere from 15 to 70% -- a humongous variance!  The problem is that a lot of people with bicuspid valves are never diagnosed.  

Q:"At what rate?"

No one can predict the rate based on one echo.  Your own progression, or lack thereof, will be more easily determined after you have some follow-up.

Q:"Could this be contributing to the irregular heartbeats."

Possibly, although no clear associations exist between palpitations and bicuspid aortic valve.  A holter monitor might help delineate what are the irregular beats.

The best way to avoid the "Freak-outs" is to be well-informed.  Continue to arm yourself with knowledge, and hopefully you'll feel better.

Hope that helps.

[RJZB]

Hello
I have been lived my whole life with heart trouble, I was diagnosted with a block arota when I was 19 year old and also had a leaky arotic valve that was 2 sided and was leaking.
In 2001 I had Strepacoci virus in my knee and I believe at that time my heart vavle was damaged even more at that time, I did have it checked out and it was only moderate leakage, I recently went to a new Cardiologist and had and ekco done and with my first visit he told me that I now have serious leakage, this means that i will have to have my arotic valve replacement I am not worried about it because I knew at the age of 19 that somewhere down the road this was going to happen.
I want to have it replaced before there is anymore damage to my heart it is already enlarged and I am looking forward to my new lease of life.